Movers and shake-ups

Temple Bright, a new arrival on the Bristol scene, has made a senior appointment as part of a drive to expand the business.

Jonathan Poole, who has previously worked for international law firm Freshfields in the City and Hong Kong and Burges Salmon has joined from Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons.

One of Temple Bright’s founders, Tim Summers, said he was delighted Jonathan Poole had joined, adding he was confident the move and the firm’s innovative approach to business would attract even more senior lawyers to the growing firm.

Mr Poole, a corporate and commercial expert with 20 years’ experience advising a wide range of businesses from SMEs to multi-nationals, said he was drawn to Temple Bright because of its structure which gives senior lawyers greater autonomy.

“This new role allows me to reconnect with the reason I went into law in the first place: to do deals, learn about clients’ businesses and be their adviser as well as their lawyer,” he said.

“Temple Bright gives me the time and freedom to focus on these things and, just as crucially, the firm’s business model allows us to offer lower and more flexible fee structures which are vital at a time when many businesses are looking to make every penny count.”